Liz Jones Returns

I had lunch today with Liz Jones, longtime executive director of the animal welfare group Peaceable Kingdom.

She’s a remarkable person, and I’ve written about her many times over the years, most recently in connection with her plans to pursue good works in Africa.

She has been splitting her time between two continents since then, and she returned home the other day after a Tanzanian stay that was extended by a mugging, a beating, a long cross-country trek and other adventures. In fact, she had expected to be home in time to be interviewed by my Lehigh University journalism class April 21, but she never made it. It took her more than five additional weeks to get back. Maybe I’ll do a column about it.

As usual, she spent some of her time pursuing ways to improve the lives of people there, particularly through solar technology, and part of it figuring out how to help animals. She brought several African dogs back with her.

When she was finished telling me about her travels, I filled her in on much-less-exciting events back here, including the latest fuss involving the Lehigh County Humane Society and Lehigh County Commissioners.

Jones said she’s going to make one last push for the animal sanctuary that has been a longtime dream of hers, a combination of a haven for unwanted dogs and cats; a testing ground for green building techniques and ecological balance; and a place that would provide therapeutic benefits for young people, elderly people, people with disabilities and anyone else who wants to help provide animal care.

Given her emphasis on low-cost spay-neuter — an effort she has pioneered in this area — it goes without saying that this would be a strong point of emphasis as well.

Jones said a large sanctuary such as the one she envisions could help relieve the strain on the Lehigh Valley’s shelters, including the humane society. Among the specific animal populations she would like to address are the pets of senior citizens who temporarily or permanently can't care for them, the pets of military personnel sent overseas, the pets of victims of domestic violence who need temporary housing for their animals, feline leukemia cats and feral cats.

Much as I’ve admired her vision, I’ve always been skeptical that Jones could pull it off. She’s been talking about a large rural sanctuary in some form since I met her years ago, refining her plan over time in hopes of attracting backers. It hasn’t happened yet, and the present economic climate seems an unlikely breeding ground for the realization of such a grand vision. What’s more, despite her organizational skills, the strong-willed Jones has been a rather polarizing figure in the animal welfare community, where the plethora of groups are as much a product of personal feuds as they are of geography and philosophy.

But it’s certainly an appealing idea. So although I suspect my usual blog readership trends more toward skid row than the upper crust, I’ll note that if any of you out there have a large plot of land and/or a large pot of money that might be directed to this project, I’ll be happy to connect you with Liz Jones so she can explain it to you. Make it quick, before she goes back to Africa.

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I don't personally know Ms. Jones although I know her family and my family knows her, but I just want to give "props" to Peaceable Kingdom - we have feral cats at my house and have managed to stabilize what otherwise was a perpetually growing (and sadly becoming roadkill or opossum-dinner) community of feral cats by trapping them, having them spayed and neutered at a very low cost, and then letting them back to chill under our back porch. Between catching some kittens early enough to socialize them into adopted homes and the spay/neuter stuff we now have only two "regulars" and I couldn't have been happier with the service I received at the clinic.

This woman sounds awesome. What a vision she has! I wish I could help, but I have neither a plot of land or any sizable sum of money. Though if she ever needs volunteers....

Posted By: Kate | Jun 3, 2009 11:49:17 AM

Kate: I'm sure if she ever succeeds in making this happen, she'll need lots of volunteers, so stay tuned.

Posted By: bill white | Jun 3, 2009 5:57:29 PM

Liz is a true champeen. There's still an open debate on whether shelters cause more long-term torment than they are worth. Thanxx to the AKC and many other exploiters, there will never be a national spay-and-neuter program.

And that is a very, very bad thing.

Posted By: Johnny Potatoe | Jun 5, 2009 1:25:17 AM

My one rescue is from Liz Jones. I met Liz and she brought Lizzie up to my home. Lizzie found her way on some wayward trail from Arkansas to Pennsylvania. Lizzie had one piece of paper to her baggage, showing she was spayed. the Chantel Vet Clinic in Arkansas made sure she traveled on the rescue train with that paper. Thus, the name Lizzie. It was on that one piece of yellow paper. All I know is I will be forever grateful to Liz Jones for getting our Lizzie involved in our world. She is the best mixed dog and we are reminded everyday how much we love her and how much she loves us. If it were not for Liz, Lizzie would not be here to make us complete. Yes, she had us at woof woof. ( hello) I still laugh when people think I named Lizzie after Liz. Really, I would have anyway!
I have now adopted 3 dogs and couldn't be happier.
Helene Easterday

Posted By: Cellshomes | Jun 7, 2009 12:02:39 PM

If you knew anything about animals and animal welfare you would realize that whatever "good intentions" Liz jones has she creates more problem animals and promotes the rehoming of diseased and contagious animals to people telling them that there is nothing wrong with them or that it doesn't matter. If it's any indication of how she cares for animals just look at the way she takes care of herself. She promotes over feeding and bad behaviors in animals and thinks she's doing them good when shes only making them less adoptable and attached to her alone. Just because it "seems" like she's doing te world a favor doesn't mean she actually is. I personally know over 12 veterinarians who would back my opinion 100%. So before you congratulate this woman.. Do your research.

Posted By: Concerned vet tech | Sep 28, 2010 7:44:32 PM

My research over many years tells me that Liz Jones' aggressive promotion of spay-neuter has had a profound effect on the population of unwanted animals in the Lehigh Valley and that she has devoted her life to this cause. If she has shortcomings -- and I have no clue whether what you're claiming is true -- they're vastly overbalanced by all the good she has achieved.